CLASS OF 1977 | 2018 | ISSUE 1

As much as I enjoy an email update from fellow class members, nothing beats running into folks, accidentally or planned, for an actual face-to-face meeting. Such was the case visiting with Liz and Will Sillin at the opening on an art show in Lexington, Mass., where Will had several fine pieces of work on display. Joining in to support the artist was fellow architect Rob MacNeille and wife Kim. We made a New Year’s resolution to get together and compare notes early in 2018. Rob has an amazing design and construction practice based in Essex and Wellesley, Mass. At Thanksgiving, my family had a Reunion gathering in Bermuda where, after a fine dinner out, we ran into Kathy (Asquith) Franklin. Kathy was on a wedding venue scouting trip with her future daughter-in-law and family. We both laughed at the incredible coincidence. It was great to see Kathy as we missed catching up during last May’s Reunion.

Several other folks wrote in wishing well to all in the New Year, including Kate Seeger and Lisa Brummel. Wendy Giardina has started studying Japanese in preparation for a March trip. This will be Wendy’s 11th language. In addition, Wendy is doing some translation for a French publisher and has begun attending an ornithology course in nearby (for her) Neuchâtel, Switzerland.

Janet Malkemes sent along her annual update, which included a report on her recovery from the removal of a cancerous tumor from her intestine. She has returned to work this New Year cancer-free with great appreciation of the medical staff that provided great care, as well as a support network of wonderful family and friends.

Dave Schreff enjoys his investing and board work in pro and college sports, media, and product licensing. His two sons are married and he sees their sister in New York frequently.

Buzz Cohen has staged-managed Oedipus El Rey for the Public Theater. Last summer Buzz was the stage manager for Shakespeare in the Park’s Julius Caesar and received the Del Hughes Lifetime Achievement Award for Excellence in the Art of Stage Management.

Brad Arrick is a clinical professor of medicine at Dartmouth College, where he has been chief of hematology/oncology. He completed a master’s in healthcare management at Harvard. Brad and his wife are looking forward to their son graduating high school next year.

Sadly, Dave Loder informed me of the passing of Tom Tucker in late 2017. Tom was a survivor of the 9/11 terrorist attack in New York. He was a chief underwriting officer at Hartford Insurance Company’s Commercial Markets Division. Remembrance gifts may be made in his honor at the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving (HFPG.org).

Finally, Bob Rees was delighted to meet up with Don Lowery at Super Bowl LII in Minneapolis. Don, a former New England Patriot PR director and confidante to Coach Bill Belichick ’75, expressed disappointment that the Minnesota Vikings had failed to reach the “Big Show,” where Don suggested that the Vikings would have been torn to shreds. If there is one thing I have learned as a Patriots fan and believer in karma, it is best to leave some things unspoken.

Best wishes for a healthy and joyous 2018.

Gerry Frank | Gfrank@bfearc.com